GENERAL OVERVIEW

Dorset is located in the south West of England - see location map top right. It's a very green and beautiful county mostly unspoiled by continuing developments, many of the customs and cultural nuances have survived well.

Being on the south coast of England has made it a very popular destination for those visiting the seaside for a very long time. Several of the main tourist towns were developed in Victorian times as ‘in’ places to go and have survived as such to this day. This does mean however that much of the coastal area is very busy and crowded during the summer season as many people from north and central England come here for their annual holiday (vacation).

Being on the south coast also means it one of the warmest areas of the country in the winter months, and although it does rain quite a bit the climate is still pleasant and mild - by the standards of many living in the United States and certainly Canada, although the locals would not think so. Flowers bloom in the gardens all year round and gardening is usually possible every month of the year. This makes it an ideal area to retire to, and many more people have moved into the area in the last 15 years thus diluting the local resident population significantly. With their arrival more shops, large stores, businesses and other support structures have arrived so the towns and villages have swelled significantly consuming more of the lovely countryside around them.
The upside is that more attractions have been created which provide more options on what to do in a area. Back in the 60’s when it rained there was little of anything most holiday makers could do but walk around the shops and sit in the pub. Today there are a wealth of other options available.
Development of new housing is also regulated. Houses built in the main bodies of existing villages must have the same look as the original village. This ensures that they look in character and the charm of the villages remains intact. Modern style housing can only be built where ‘you have to look for it’ on backroads and such like away from village or town centers. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a house is an original or a newly built copy. In some cases even the preservationists have been fooled and tried to slap preservation orders on newer buildings!

Dorset is one of the most diverse areas in the whole of England -see beaches & geology for more details. The coastal scenery is stunning and the rolling hills inland interspersed with lovely villages, gardens and stately homes make this area a real gem to visit. It is a large agricultural area with some cereal and dairy farming but most of the hillsides are taken up with sheep, which can be seen dotting the hillsides and valleys over most of the county. The gentle baaing which wafts on the breeze almost anywhere in the county gives a tranquil relaxing atmosphere to the whole area.

If you visit the area don't confine your visit to the coasts, although it is hard sometimes to tear yourself away from the beautiful scenery, do explore some of the inland areas too. Take your time, this region has so much to offer that it's impossible to see even a fraction of it in a couple of weeks.